Cigarette assembly



9, 1967 J. A. CURTIS, JR 3,318,312

CIGARETTE AS SEMBLY Filed July 27, 1964 INVENTOR. 9g 'Jbsaw/A 'u/er/s ,2.

A 7 rue/v5 United States Patent 3,318,312 CIGARETTE ASSEMBLY Joseph A. Curtis, Jr., 917 Cambridge, Apt. H, Anaheim, Calif. 92805 Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,111 7 Claims. (Cl. 13110.5)

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 326,119 entitled Smoking Accessory filed on Nov. 26, 1963, now Patent No. 3,269,394; the latter was a continuation in part of application Serial No. 203,678 filed June 1, 1962, now abandoned; which in turn was a continuation in part of application Serial No. 841,278 filed Sept. 21, 1959, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates generally to the field of accessories for use with cigarettes, and more particularly to an assembly that may be incorporated in the mouthpiece thereof to remove deleterious products of combustion prior to being drawn into a smokers mouth.

During the past few months the results of comprehensive experimental work done on cigarette smoking have been made available to the general public, which indicate that certain components in cigarette smoke have a detrimental effect on a cigarette smoker over a period of time. Such components or by-products are believed to include various coal tar compounds that are formed during the combustion of the tobacco, and are considered to be deleterious to the well-being of a cigarette smoker.

A major object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of extremely simple structure that can be incorporated in the mouthpiece of a cigarette at a relatively low cost, and which tends to overcome the detrimental effect of tobacco smoking by removing a substantial quantity of the deleterious products of combustion before the smoke is drawn into a smokers mouth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a smoking assembly that does not appreciably reduce the normal enjoyment derived from cigarette smoking, or increase the effort required in drawing smoke therefrom.

A till further object of the present invention is to provide a smoking assembly that can be used with either a plain cigarette or in conjunction with a cigarette provided with a fibrous filter to substantially reduce the quantity of products of combustion drawn into a smokers mouth.

These and other objects of a first and an alternate form of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof, and from the accompanying drawing illustrating the same, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette in the tip of which the present invention is concealed;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the invention mounted in a cigarette, showing a plug of filter material disposed forwardly thereof, taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view of the tip of a cigarette showing the invention intermediately positioned between two plugs of filter material;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of a first part of the assembly that defines a partition in which an orifice is formed;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of a second part of the assembly that defines a baflie on which a jet of smoke from an orifice impinges, which bafiie serves to alter the direction of smoke to permit it to pass rearwardly through a plurality of openings located in the peripheral portion of the second part of the assembly; and

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an alternate form of the invention mounted in the mouthpiece portion of a cigarette.

With continued reference to the drawing for the general arrangement of the invention, a cigarette A is shown in FIGURE 1 that is defined by a paper cylindrical tube 10, the major portion of the length of which is filled with tobacco 12. A first end 14 of the tube 10 is provided with a cylindrical tip B extending rearwardly therefrom. The forward portion of the tip B preferably houses a cylindrical plug C of filter material, as can best be seen in FIGURE 2.

The present invention comprises an assembly which includes first and second parts D and E, which are arranged in abutting contact with the confines of the tip B, as best seen in FIGURE 2. The first part D of the invention includes a concave-convex web 16, from the forward end of which acylindrical flange 18 extends rearwardly. The flange 18 serves a three-fold purpose; first to adhere the first part D of the assembly to the interior surface of the tip B; secondly, serves as a spacer to longitudinally position the first part D of the assembly relative to the second part E thereof; and thirdly, to dispose the forward plug C at a desired longitudinal distance relative to the web 16.

The web 16 has an orifice 20' formed in the central portion thereof through which smoke is drawn rearwardly as a high velocity jet 22 that impinges on the second part E of the assembly. The dimensions of the orifice 20 are critical, and from experience it has been found that the most desirable results achieved in removing deleterious byproducts from the smoke prior to the smoke leaving the cigarette A is attained when the orifice is circular and of a diameter of substantially .028 inch. When the diameter of the orifice is .028 inch the assembly removes a very substantial quantity of the deleterious compounds from the tobacco smoke passing therethrough, without appreciably increasing the effort required to draw smoke from the cigarette A.

Also from experience it has been found that the transverse cross section of the orifice 20, rather than the shape thereof, is the critical element in the removal of deleterious products from smoke as it passes through the assembly. Hence, the shape of the orifice 20 need not necessarily be circular, but can be square, rectangular, triangular, or any other desired geometric configuration. Also, it has been determined that a circular orifice 20 may have a diameter ranging between 0.005 and 0.100 inch and operate satisfactorily. The smaller the diameter, the greater quantity of deleterious compounds removed from the tobacco smoke as it passes through the assembly. In addition, the smaller the orifice 20, the greater will be the physical effort required to draw smoke from the cigarette A.

The second part E of the invention is defined by a convex-concave partition 24 disposed adjacent to the web 16' and rearwardly therefrom, and the jet of smoke 22 impinges on the forward face of this partition. The outer extremity of partition 24 merges into a ring 26 that is disposed in a direction normal to the tip B. The outer peripheral portion of ring 26 develops into a second cylindrical flange 28 that extends rearwardly in the tip B, and is adhered to the interior surface thereof by conventional means such as an adhesive, or the like.

In the operation of the assembly, as shown in FIG- URE 2 the smoke is drawn rearwardly through the plug C, and a portion of the deleterious products of combustion contained therein is deposited in this plug of filter material. The rear face 30 of the plug C is substantially unobstructed, and as a result, as the smoke is drawn rearwardly it passes uniformly through the plug to a first confined space 32 defined by the rear face 30 and the forward face of the web 16.

It should be noted that the first part D of the assembly has a ring-shaped surface 34 defined by the forward extremity of flange 18 that is in abutting contact with the outer peripheral portion of the face 30. The spacing between the rear extremity of the orifice 20 and the forward face of the partition 24 most adjacent thereto is 1 forward face of the partition 24, coal tar products of combustion that are of a dark color and quite viscous form as a body 38 on the central portion of the partition 24, as may be seen in phantom line in FIGURE 3. The smoke comprising the jet 22 is thereafter deflected forwardly and outwardly by the partition 24 to traverse a path such as shown in phantom line in FIGURE 3 to pass rearwardly through a number of circumferentially spaced ports 40 formed in the ring 26', as can best be seen in FIGURE 4. After passing through the ports 40 the smoke then=flows rearwardly through the balance of the mouthpiece, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, into the smokers mouth.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 3, after the jet of smoke 22 passes rearwardly through ports 40 it flows through a second plug F of a filter material, which further removes deleterious compounds that may remain entrained in the smoke in the form of tiny droplets, or the like. The second flange 28, the 'rear surface of the partition 24, and the forward face 42 of the second plug F cooperatively define a second confined space 44 in which the smoke is drawn after it passes rearwardly through the ports 40.

The forward face 42 of the second plug F is unobstructed' relative to the second confined space 44, and smoketherefrom may, as a result, flow rearwardly, and uniformly through the second plug E into the smokers mouth. The second flange 28 (FIGURE 3) serves to space the second plug F at a predetermined longitudinal distance from the partition 24. The first and second parts D and E of the assembly can be formed from any desired 7 material, butit has been found convenient to form the same from a polymerized resin such as Tenite, a product of the Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, New York.

From experimental tests on the assembly it has been found that the web 16, partition 24, and the flanges 18 and 28 should preferably be 0.010 inchin thickness. The radius of curvature of the forward face of web 16 should be approximately 0.146 inch, and the radius of curvature of the forward face of partition 24 should be approximately 0.186 inch.

As will be evident from the previous description, the assembly of the present invention is of extremely simple mechanical. structure. The assembly performs equally .efliciently whether disposed in the tip B of either a filtered or unfiltered cigarette A.

The assembly is considered to embody the following elements of patentable novelty:

(1) Simplicity of structure;

(2) Length of flange 18 which serves to automatically space orifice 20 a desired distance from partition 24.

(3) Forward extremity of flange 18 which serves to hold plugC a fixed distance from web 16.

(4) The flange 18 which provides a cylindrical surface that can be adhered to the interior surface of tip B:

(5) When the first member D and plug C are in abutting contact they automatically define a first confined space 32 that is maintained at a negative pressure when a smoker draws on cigarette A, which negative pressure causes smoke to be drawn rearwardly and uniformly through the entire transverse cross section of plug C to obtain a maximum filtering action therefrom.

(6) Flange 28 serves to maintain plug F a fixed longitudinal distance from partition 24.

(7) Flange 28 provides a cylindrical surface that can be adhered to the interior surface of tip B.

(8) When flange 28 and plug C are in abutting contact they automatically define a confined space 44 that is maintained at a negative pressure when a smoker draws on cigarette A, with smoke from space 44 flowing rearwardly and uniformly through part E to obtain maximum filtering action therefrom.

(9) The critical limits of orifice 20 and its longitudinal spacing from partition 24.

(10) The maximum utilization of filtering capabilities of plug C and plug F.

(11) Two-step and three-step removal of deleterious compounds from tobacco smoke.

(l2) Varying of the diameter of orifice 20 to regulate the percentage of deleterious compounds to be removed from the tobacco smoke.

An alternate form of the device is shown in FIGURE 6, which is also shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 326,119. In the alternate form, a cylindrical roll of cigarette paper is provided which has two longitudinally spaced, first and second partitions 82 and 84 respectively, in the rear end portion thereof. Tobacco 86 is disposed in roll 80 forwardly of the first partition 82.

The edge. portions of the first and second partitions 82 and 84 are each attached by adhesive or other conventional means to the interior surface of roll 80. The first partition 82 is preferably of concave-convex configuration, as shown in FIGURE 6, and an orifice 88 is formed inthe center thereof.

Second partition 84 includes a ring-shaped portion 90 that supports a rearwardlyextending recessed portion 91. A numberof circumferentially spaced openings 96 are formed in the ring-shaped portion 90. The orifice 88 can vary in diameter between 0.005 and 0.1 inch, and still form tobacco smoke into a high velocity jet 92 that will deposit coal tar products and particles of solid materials on the forward surface of recessed portion 92. The second partition 84 may be disposed rearwardly of first partition 82 within a range of distances between 0.005 and 0.1 inch.

To prevent entry of particles of tobacco 86 into orifice 88 whereby it may become clogged or plugged up, a screen 94 or other perforated body (not shown) is disposed forwardly of the orifice. It ispreferable that the screen 94 be physically connectedto the first partition, such as by adhering the edges thereof to the forward surface of the first partition 82. To prevent collapse of the roll 80 rearwardly of the second partition 84, a body 98 of porous materials is preferably disposed therein. I The use and operation of the'alternate form of the invention is substantially the same as thatof the assembly previously described when used with the part E only, and hence a description thereof need not be repeated.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages here- I inbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely llustrative of the presently preferred embodiments thereof and I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cigarette including an assembly, comprising:

7 (a) a wrapper in which tobacco is contained from tip to mouthpiece thereof;

(b) a first plug of porous filter material disposed in said mouthpiece rearwardly of said tobacco;

(c) a first part of said assembly disposed in said mouthpiece rearwardly of said first plug, which first part includes a concave-convex web having a first cylindrical flange extending rearwardly therefrom that is in abutting contact with the interior surface of said mouthpiece and adhered thereto, with said web having an orifice formed therein, with the forward edge of said first flange being in abutting contact with the rear surface of said first plug to-permit said web and first plug to define a first confined space that is maintained at a negative pressure when a smoker draws on said cigarette, which negative pressure causes smoke from said tobacco to be drawn uniformly through the entire transverse area of said first plug to obtain a maximum filtering action from said first plug, and with said smoke discharging rearwardly from said orifice as a high velocity jet; and (d) a second part of said assembly disposed in said mouthpiece rearwardly of said first part and in abutting contact with the rear edge of said first flange, which second part includes a cylindrical flange that is adhered to the interior surface of said mouthpiece, a ring that extends inwardly from the forward end of said second flange, a concave-convex partition supported from the inner edge of said ring on which said jet impinges as a smoker draws on said cigarette, which jet deposits deleterious products of combustion contained therein on said partition as it impinges on a concave surface thereof, with said smoke thereafter being deflected forwardly and outwardly into a second confined space defined by said first flange, said web and said partition, to flow rearwardly therefrom through a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports formed in said ring, and with the length of said first flange determining the longitudinal spacing between the rear extremity of said orifice and said partition. 2. A cigarette as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second parts are formed from a polymerized resin. 3. A cigarette as defined in claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature of the concave surface of said web is substantially 0.146 inch.

4. A cigarette as defined in claim 1 wherein the diameter of said orifice ranges between 0.005 to 0.100 inch.

5. A cigarette as defined in claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature of the concave surface of said partition is substantially 0.186 inch.

6. A cigarette as defined in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal spacing between the rear extremity of that portion of said web defining said orifice ranges between 0.005 and 0.100 inch from the forward concave surface of said partition.

7. A cigarette as defined in claim 1 which further includes:

(e) a second plug of porous filter material disposed in said mouthpiece rearwardly of said second part and in abutting contact with the rear extremity of said second flange, which second plug, partition and said second flange cooperatively define a third confined space into which smoke from said ports passes, with said smoke from said third confined space being drawn uniformly through the entire transverse cross section of said second plug to obtain maximum filtering action therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,511,898 6/1950 Brothers 131-202 2,764,513 9/1956 Brothers 13110.5 3,234,949 2/1966 White et a1. 131210 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

MELVIN D. REIN, Examiner. 

1. A CIGARETTE INCLUDING AN ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING: (A) A WRAPPER IN WHICH TOBACCO IS CONTAINED FROM TIP TO MOUTHPIECE THEREOF; (B) A FIRST PLUG OF POROUS FILTER MATERIAL DISPOSED IN SAID MOUTHPIECE REARWARDLY OF SAID TOBACCO; (C) A FIRST PART OF SAID ASSEMBLY DISPOSED IN SAID MOUTHPIECE REARWARDLY OF SAID FIRST PLUG, WHICH FIRST PART INCLUDES A CONCAVE-CONVEX WEB HAVING A FIRST CYLINDRICAL FLANGE EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM THAT IS IN ABUTTING CONTACT WITH THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID MOUTHPIECE AND ADHERED THERETO, WITH SAID WEB HAVING AN ORIFICE FORMED THEREIN, WITH THE FORWARD EDGE OF SAID FIRST FLANGE BEING IN ABUTTING CONTACT WITH THE REAR SURFACE OF SAID FIRST PLUG TO PERMIT SAID WEB AND FIRST PLUG TO DEFINE A FIRST CONFINED SPACE THAT IS MAINTAINED AT A NEGATIVE PRESSURE WHEN A SMOKER DRAWS ON SAID CIGARETTE, WHICH NEGATIVE PRESSURE CAUSES SMOKE FROM SAID TOBACCO TO BE DRAWN UNIFORMLY THROUGH THE ENTIRE TRANSVERSE AREA OF SAID FIRST PLUG TO OBTAIN A MAXIMUM FILTERING ACTION FROM SAID FIRST PLUG, AND WITH SAID SMOKE DISCHARGING REARWARDLY FROM SAID ORIFICE AS A HIGH VELOCITY JET; AND (D) A SECOND PART OF SAID ASSEMBLY DISPOSED IN SAID MOUTHPIECE REARWARDLY OF SAID FIRST PART AND IN ABUTTING CONTACT WITH THE REAR EDGE OF SAID FIRST FLANGE, WHICH SECOND PART INCLUDES A CYLINDRICAL FLANGE THAT IS ADHERED TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID MOUTHPIECE, 